Toronto hospital to double housing program that reduced ER visits

University Health Network and Fred Victor will build 54 new apartments next to Dunn House with federal, provincial and city funding; preliminary data shows Dunn House residents cut emergency department visits by 52% and reduced hospital stay lengths by 79% in the year after moving in.

A Toronto hospital network will expand a permanent housing program for people who frequently use emergency departments. University Health Network (UHN) and housing operator Fred Victor will build 54 new apartments next to Dunn House. Dunn House opened in the fall of 2024 and was built on a hospital-owned parking lot. The project has federal, provincial and municipal funding commitments. What is known: - The expansion will add 54 apartments adjacent to Dunn House, developed by UHN and Fred Victor. - The federal Build Canada Homes program is providing $21 million for construction, Ontario will provide $2.6 million annually to operate the site, and the City of Toronto is investing $10 million and will lead delivery. - Dunn House opened in fall 2024 on a hospital parking lot. - UHN reported preliminary data showing the 48 residents who lived at Dunn House made nearly 2,000 emergency department visits in the year before moving in. - One year after moving in, those residents visited emergency departments 52% fewer times and had a 79% drop in length of hospital stays when admitted, and residents reported improved outlooks on their lives. Summary: The planned expansion will create 54 additional permanent homes next to Dunn House with funding from federal, provincial and city sources, and the City of Toronto will lead delivery. Preliminary results reported by UHN indicate large reductions in emergency department visits and in hospital stay lengths among Dunn House residents after a year. Undetermined at this time.